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Memphis vs. UCLA
April 4, 2008
By Brad Young VegasInsider.com
E ven though both Memphis and UCLA are number one seeds playing in the Final Four, there are few similarities between these schools. The Tigers are playing in their first Final Four since 1985, while the Bruins are making their third consecutive trip to this stage. UCLA remains the most dominant school in college basketball history, winning 11 titles behind such marquee players as Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton.
There are also a ton of similarities between these teams heading into Saturday’s matchup. Besides being number one seeds, both schools have won 30-plus games the last three seasons. The Tigers and Bruins are also led this year by sensational freshman.
Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose wrapped up the South Regional Most Outstanding Player by going for 21 points, six rebounds and nine assists in the Elite Eight victory over Texas. UCLA freshman center Kevin Love captured the West Regional MOP award by posting 19 points and 10 rebounds against Xavier.
These schools also have some Final Four history after meeting in the 1973 championship game. UCLA throttled the Tigers in that contest, 87-66, behind Bill Walton’s 44 points.
Caesars Palace currently lists Memphis as a two-point favorite over UCLA, with the total set at 135. This contest opened as a ‘pick,’ with the total set at 134 ½. CBS Sports will provide coverage of Saturday’s contest beginning at 6:05 p.m. ET from San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Memphis (37-1 straight up, 16-19 against the spread) advanced to the Final Four after beating the last two teams by 18 points. The Tigers throttled Texas in the South Region final Sunday as a 3 ½-point favorite, 85-67. The combined 152 points toppled the 144 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the fourth consecutive contest.
Memphis jumped out to an 11-point halftime advantage (39-28), and finished the contest by outrebounding the Longhorns, 34-31. The Tigers shot 50 percent (26-of-52) from the field while limiting Texas to just 36 percent (25-of-69). Guard Chris Douglas-Roberts led all scorers with 25 points including 14 points from the free-throw line, while forward Joey Dorsey contributed 11 and 12 rebounds.
Memphis tied a Division I record for wins in a season, with its lone loss occurring to Tennessee when the Vols were ranked second. The Tigers have remained in the top-three of the polls all season.
Memphis sports a 17-0 SU and 9-7 ATS record away from home, winning those affairs by an average score of 77-63.
UCLA (35-3 SU, 21-14 ATS) has also dominated teams en route to San Antonio after routing Xavier Saturday as a 6 ½-point ‘chalk,’ 76-57. The Bruins had failed to cover their previous two affairs. The combined 133 points slithered ‘over’ the 132-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second consecutive contest.
UCLA entered halftime with a 33-24 advantage, and finished the contest by outrebounding Xavier, 34-26. The Bruins shot a robust 54 percent (28-of-52) from the field, while limiting the Musketeers to just 36 percent (21-of-58). Four starters reached double digits in scoring, led by Love and guard Darren Collison’s 19 points and five assists.
Coach Ben Howland’s team is 16-1 SU and 11-5 ATS on the road, winning those contests by an average score of 76-58.
Memphis and UCLA met twice on neutral courts during the 2005-06 season, splitting those affairs. The Tigers prevailed in November 2005 as a 6 ½-point ‘chalk,’ 88-80, while the Bruins triumphed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament as a three-point underdog, 50-45.
Memphis guard Andre Allen is expected to miss Saturday’s matchup with the Bruins due to a team suspension.
Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.
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